MLB Targets: May 30th

After a busy Memorial Day of baseball, there are 14 games on tap for tonight with only the Indians and Athletics not on the slate. There could be some weather issues to monitor in St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and especially Baltimore, but overall things look pretty clear. Here are my top targets for what shapes up to be a fun night.

Pitcher

Stud

Chris Sale – BOS @ CWS – $13,400 – Sale posted a disappointing 22.3 DKFP in his last start striking out just six and snapping his streak of double-digit strikeouts at eight games. He has at least 35 DKFP in four of his last eight starts, and he should be motivated as he takes on his former team tonight in Chicago. He is an expensive play, but he has been so locked in during his first season in Boston that he is still a solid investment. Sale enters tonight’s grudge match with a 2.34 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 73 innings.

Other Options – Luis Severino ($10,200), Robbie Ray ($9,600)

Value

José Berríos – MIN vs. HOU – $7,300 – Since being called up this season, Berrios has been outstanding in three starts after getting pummelled in 14 starts last season. He’s still just 23 years old, and definitely a prospect the Twins are excited to see develop. In his three starts this season, he is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA and an even-more-impressive 0.55 WHIP. He has held opponents to eight hits in 21.2 innings while striking out 22 and walking just four. He has allowed three homers, but he has limited baserunners so well that they haven’t been fatal. He has posted over 22 DKFP in each of his three starts highlighted by his one home start when he struck out 11 Rockies and posted 40.3 DKFP. He faces a tough matchup against the Astros tonight, but I’m still in on him since he has been facing good offenses so far this season and has had success against the Indians, Rockies and Orioles.

Other Options – Dinelson Lamet ($6,100), Eddie Butler ($5,400)

Catcher

Stud

Yasmani Grandal – LAD @ STL – $3,600 – Grandal got Sunday off before returning to the lineup yesterday going 1-4 in the Dodgers’ 5-1 Memorial Day victory. Grandal is hitting .351 (27-77) in May with 10 doubles and two homers. He is 3-9 in his career against tonight’s starter Michael Wacha including a home run and three RBI. In his 17 starts since May 1, he has only been held hitless one time.

Other Options – Buster Posey ($4,100), Welington Castillo ($3,500)

Value

Salvador Perez – KC vs. DET – $3,300 – After a wild game last night, the Royals will try to even their series against the Tigers as they face Justin Verlander tonight. Perez has faced Verlander a ton during their time in the AL Central, and Perez is 23-52 (.442) against him with eight doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI and a 1.148 OPS. Perez has gone 10-39 (.256) over his last 10 games with three homers and a solid 7.9 FPPG average. He should be in a positive matchup to continue good production at a very affordable price tonight.

Other Options – Tyler Flowers ($3,300), Jason Castro ($2,800)

First Base

Stud

Mark Reynolds – COL vs. SEA – $4,900 – The Rockies are sure to be popular big-money items tonight as they host the Mariners at Coors Field. Reynolds is definitely one of the big bats to target since he is 28-85 (.329) this month with a .918 OPS. He has a 1.092 OPS at Coors where ten of his 13 home runs have come. He and the Rockies face lefty Ariel Miranda tonight.

Other Options – Paul Goldschmidt ($5,300), Joey Votto ($4,700)

Value

Wilmer Flores – NYM vs. MIL – $3,600 – Flores continues to be a very nice bargain play who brings production to the table almost every game. He has multiple hits in four of his last five starts and is 14-33 (.424) over his last 10 games with an impressive .972 OPS. Tonight, he and the Mets host Zach Davies and the Brewers.

Other Options – Cody Bellinger ($3,900), José Martínez ($2,600)

Second Base

Stud

Daniel Murphy – WAS @ SF – $4,600 – Murphy and the Nationals will look to beat the Giants again tonight after yesterday’s dust-up. Murphy went 2-4 with a double and two RBI in his return from an illness which had kept him out of the lineup over the weekend. His multi-hit game brought his average to .319 on the season with a .922 OPS. He gets a good matchup tonight against Jeff Samardzija who he has gone 7-15 (.467) against in his career with a double, a triple and a home run giving him a 1.333 OPS.

Other Options – José Altuve ($4,900), Dee Gordon ($4,400)

Value

Devon Travis – TOR vs. CIN – $3,800 – Travis is remarkably affordable given the tear he has been on this month especially in a favorable matchup at home. Travis has gone 35-92 (.380) in May with 16 doubles and three home runs giving him a 1.041 OPS. He has a 1.239 OPS over his last 10 games when he has gone 19-42 (.452) and averaged over a dozen FPPG. He had 20 DKFP yesterday going 4-6 with a double and two RBI, and he gets another good matchup today against Asher Wojciechowski making his first MLB start this season.

Other Options – Chase Utley ($3,200), Andrew Romine ($3,000)

Third Base

Stud

Miguel Sanó – MIN vs. HOU – $4,400 – Sanó has emerged as a power-packed, high-upside option every time he takes the field, but he also comes up empty sometimes and carries a high strikeout rate. Sanó took a couple days out of the lineup and looked fresh yesterday going 1-4 with another home run. He’s hitting .292 on the year with a .996 OPS. He’s at home tonight at Target Field against Mike Fiers and the Astros. Sanó is only 1-8 in the past against Fiers, but that one hit was a home run. He’ll a swing for the fences tonight against the Astros.

Other Options – Nolan Arenado ($5,400), Eugenio Suárez ($4,500)

Value

Rio Ruiz – ATL @ LAA – $2,700 – If you’re looking for an ultra-cheap play at the hot corner, check out Ruiz who has filled in well for the injured Adonis Garcia. Ruiz is 10-33 (.303) over his last 10 games with seven runs scored, five RBI, two doubles and a home run. His .833 OPS over that span makes him an interesting play tonight against LA’s scheduled starter Parker Bridwell making his first appearance of the season after giving up five runs in just 3.1 innings in his MLB career.

Other Options – Travis Shaw ($3,900), Jedd Gyorko ($3,600)

Shortstop

Stud

Trevor Story – COL vs. SEA – $4,500 – Paying $4.5K for a player hitting .191 isn’t normally a strategy I’d endorse, but Story is actually a pretty good deal tonight at Coors Field. He had gone 10-41 (.244) in May with four doubles and a pair of home runs. Both of those home runs have come in the last week since he was activated from the DL. Tonight, he gets a good matchup against lefty Ariel Miranda. Story is 8-35 (.229) against southpaws this year but all eight of those hits have been for extra bases with four doubles and four home runs. His 1.027 OPS against lefties and the fact that he looks healthy again makes him a nice play at the price despite his low overall average this season.

Other Options – Jean Segura ($4,800), Didi Gregorius ($4,100)

Value

Tim Beckham – TB @ TEX – $3,000 – Beckham went 2-4 yesterday in the Rays’ win in Texas connecting on his eighth homer of the season on his way to 21 DKFP. Beckham has hit safely in each of his last four games and six of his last seven coming into tonight’s matchup against Nick Martínez. Beckham is 1-3 off of Martínez with a triple in their previous meetings, and he continues to be a daily option from his affordable price.

Other Options – Aledmys Díaz ($3,400), José Iglesias ($3,000)

Outfield

Stud

Aaron Judge – NYY @ BAL – $5,100 – Sometimes lost in his power surge is the fact that Judge has been hitting for average this season as well. He is 29-87 (.333) in May with his seven homers, 15 RBI and 13 walks. He has a 1.106 OPS on the year and a crazy 1.721 OPS against Baltimore. He has gone 8-20 against the O’s this season with eight walks, and five of those eight hits have been home runs.

Other Options – Charlie Blackmon ($5,500), Mookie Betts ($4,800)

Value

Guillermo Heredia – SEA @ COL – $3,500 – Since the Mariners are facing lefty Tyler Anderson, it’s likely that Heredia will get the start and hit second in the Seattle lineup. He is 7-20 (.350) over the last week including a home run he hit in his last start on Sunday. He has hit safely in each of his last five starts and is 13-40 (.325) on the season against southpaws. If he’s in the Seattle lineup after Jean Segura and before Robinson Canó and Nelson Cruz, he could end up being a great buy at this price if the Mariners rack up the runs at Coors Field.

Other Options – Tommy Pham ($3,800), Andrew McCutchen ($3,200)

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Z.Thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above.

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